Stocking run mender



Sept. 1951 J. H. TAYLOR ET AL I 2,566,780

' STOCKING RUN MENDER Filed Nov. 1 1-946 //v vs/v TORS /OQEP/l 7:4YLOR HANS O. ScHOMER A 7' ToR/vEY Patented Sept. 4, 1951 2,566,780 STOCKING RUN MENDER Joseph H. Taylor and Hans 0. Schomer, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 1, 1946, Serial No. 707,072

9 Claims.

This invention relates to stocking run menders and particularly to such as will fill the need for doing the work well, while at the same time be so compact as to be convenient included in a hand bag.

Aside from power machines employed for such work commercially, practically nothing has been done in this field. Other than a needle in a handle with a stop, there appears to be .no hand operated device. tional type with hook and latch for such loop stitch work, like the needle employed in the power machines, and the stop is merely a piece of stiff material clipped onto the shank of the needle. This stop governs the movement of the needle to the right depth into but not upward out of the material. The stocking material is held by. a rubber band over the mouth of a tumbler, while being worked on. The length of run that can be worked on in such a setup is quite limited, and it is obvious that it is very difficult to operate the needle free-handedly. It requires a very steady hand and keen eye-sight and under any circumstances is very tedious.

One important object of our invention is-to provide a stocking run mender that will make it possible for the average individual to mend a run, and do so rapidly without tiring hands and eyes.

Another object .is to provide a stocking run mender that is compact, neat and unobstructive, so that it may be conveniently contained in a hand bag as well as a sewing kit, to meet emergencies as well as general requirements.

Another object is to provide a stocking run mender that dependable and efficient in operation, but which can be cheaply manufactured.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

For a full disclosure of our invention, reference is made to the description folowing and to the drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the stockin r-un mender.

Fig.2 is a top plan view Fig. 3 is an end view taken from the left as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of inner and outer clamping frames taken on any line as indicated by 4-4 in Fig. .2.

Fig. 5 is a separate top plan view of the finder.

Fig. 6 is a view showing details of carriage propelling roller.

In the selected embodiment of our invention, which is hereby :-disc1osed we provide a construc- The needle is of the convention consisting principally of nickel plated brass and synthetic rubber. It might however be made of aluminum and anodized, destroying any refiective properties and furnishing a contrasting background for material usually workedon. In the main, it consists of a pair of clamping frames for firmly holding the stocking material and a carriage, with the mending devices and aids, operating on and over said clamping frames. We provide outer clamping frame sidemembers Ill, preferably of substantially channel shaped sec v tions with outwardly extending flanges, and riveted pins I I at each end maintain fixed spaced apart relationship of the side members. As to how this outer clamping frame also serves as a track, will be subsequently explained. The inner clamping frame is made up of side pieces I2 and base I3, inte rally molded of Syntheticrubber, and reinforced by a U-shaped metal member I4, to give stiffness to inner clamping frame in engaging the outer clamping frame. It will be observed that the side pieces I2 are slightly tapered on the outside, to facilitate entry into the outer clamping frame. In the molding of the inner clampin frame, ribs I5 are provided. These ribs have edges that project downwardly, and when pressed downward by the outer clamping frame, exert .a barb like grip on stocking material engaged be-. tween the two clampin frames. .The dark color of the synthetic rubber .of the inner clamping frame, provides a helpful contrasting background, against which, the threads of the stock-. ing material are easily seen. To form a similar dark back-ground, aluminum electrolytically or chemically treated, might be employed ,forinner clamping frame construction.

We provide a frame for carriage for mending devices by using two side members or standards It, joined together in required spaced apart relationship by riveted connections 11. The top connectionis formed by riveting endsof a continuous pin. As will be noted later, this riveted pin also serves as a pivot and as a spring holder. .The bottom connections are four short rivets, that join .and space the frame with a device to aid in the mending, as will be described later. 'Onsides of top flanges of the outer clamping frame I0. Another form we have devised, employs within a box-lil e yoke provided at bottom of each of side standards, a pair of such springswith a junc ture at the mid-point bent at right an les, so

lateral spring action is also provided. This is an added refinement but not essential to the working of the device. The upper sides of the flanges of clamping frame side members ID are in slidable contact with a plate 2|, which has angle portions 22 at its two ends, which attach it to the carriage frame by further use of the rivets IT. This plate 2| has an opening with opposed index points 23, to define a line at right angles to travel of said plate, the use of which as a finder will be later explained. It will be observed that the top fianges of the outer clamping frame, being thus confined between said plate 2| and said bent spring loops 20, results in smooth sliding of said carriage frame on said outer clamping frame as a track. To propel carriage in a definite and finely controllable manner, and have same remain in a fixed position when not operated, we provide a roller 24 with rubber inserts 25 and a knurled thumb screw 26. This roller has reduced diameter shaft portions 2'! journalled into the carriage frame, so that rubber inserts 25 are in frictional contact with top surface of top flanges of outer clamping frame. The knurled thumb screw 26 is force fitted onto shaft portion 21, after the roller has been assembled in the carriage frame. To produce a mender to better accommodate left-handed persons, roller and thumb screw can be reversed. A roller with a thumb screw at each end can be provided, which will then accommodate right handed or left handed persons. In such a roller, a full length replaceable rubber insert can be provided, threaded on a uniform diameter shaft of the size of the Journals in the frame. This can also be accomplished with a thumb screw at one end only by using a snap retainer engaging a recess in the other end of the shaft. As will later be explained, needle operating member can be arranged in a manner similar to roller, to better accommodate lefthanded persons. It is apparent that by turning the thumb screw, any desired increment of movement forward or backward is obtained. The carriage is readily propelled and slipped off and on the end of the outer clamping frame, but this is not necessary to insert stocking material between the two clamping frames. By placing the inner clamping frame at the proper location inside of a stocking, it may be pressed into the outer clamping frame and the stocking material is firmly secured, ready to be worked on.

To mend a run in a stocking, a conventional hook and latch needle 28 is used, and by forming consecutive loop stitches with succeeding cross threads of the stocking material, the run is eliminated. It is obvious that much refinement is required to do the work quickly and perfectly. Such refinement is made possible by the construction specified aided bv certain additional devices. We provide a needle operating member consisting of, a yoke 29 pivotally secured to carriage frame side members |6 by pivots 30, an arm 3|, and operating extension 32 integral with said yoke 29. The operating extension 32 is at right angles to the arm 3|, and by forming an angle portion integral with the operating extension at one end, we provide a flat finger push contact 33. Like the propelling roller with a thumb screw on either or both sides, finger push contacts can be provided on either or both sides to accommodate left-handed as well as right-handed persons. A coil spring 34 is connected, at one end to the arm 3|, and at its other end to the riveted pin IT. This spring actuates the needle operating member upwardly, when free retains it in that position, and renders operation in that direction automatic as downward operation is performed by hand. Instead of a coil spring, we can use a torsional spring with equally as good results. The operating member of itself could also be a leaf spring. We have also devised a needle operating member with compression coil springs in a straight up and down slide. The operating extension 32 provides up and down travel limit stops, by top and bottom edges of same coming in contact with the side standards of the carriage frame. The width of the extension is proportioned so that the limit of travel in each direction exactly meets the requirements. A horizontal slot 35 is centered in the needle operating member passing through the operating extension. Into this slot, fits a needle holder 38. This needle holder has a projection bend extending forward through the horizontal slot, and the bend itself has a vertical slot in line through both sides. Into this verti-' cal slot, fits a hook and latch needle, which is frictionally and adjustably held against the fiat surface of the operating member, by exact spacing oi the slot relative to angle bends of needle holder on opposite side of operating member and which provide for its retention. Being thus frictionally held, the needle holder is readily adjustable laterally by moving same in the horizontal slot of operating member. The hookand latch needle 28 is marked to indicate how far it should be inserted into the needle holder for best operation. The needle operating member is so designed, that needle approaches and passes through the work with proper angulation, to insure operation of hook and latch to pick up the stitch. To mend a wide run, additional vertical slots in needle holder would accommodate a plurality of needles, to accomplish the work mor rapidly.

To render the mender more subiect to fine control of the propelling roller, and to make it more easy to accom lish the mending operation. we provide a magnifying glass 31 at proper focal distance in a pivoted mounting 38. The index oints 23 of the finder 2| previously referred to, define a line close to the work, which intersects with the path of the needle, and with the threads of the. stocking material in contrast with the dark back-ground of the inner clamping frame, the mending operation is made easy by the further aid of the magnifying glass. The magnifying glass mounting 38 makes further use as a pivot of the riveted nin l! of the carriage frame. which pin as previously stated also serves to hold the upper end of spring 34. It will be noted that the pin I1 is in an offset portion of the frame side member Hi. This makes it possible to swing the magnifying glass through an are entirely clear of the needle holder, that same is easily adjusted and the needle may be adjusted or changed without interference. It may he desirable in starting, to swing the magnifying glass aside, and also when tying the final loop, so these operations can be accomplished without interference.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the diflicult and almost impossible feat of mend-- ing by hand a run in a stocking, is reduced to an easily workable process by our invention. It may be accomplished anywhere and under any circumstances, as the mender is so small and compact that it is easily carried. Carefully developed mechanical refinements are substituted for action inner clamping frame means, 'which is slightly wedge shaped and engaged by said outer clamping frame means, said resilient material being dark in color, provides a contrasting background for working on light colored threads of the stocking material, all substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pair of inter-engaging clamping frames, a mender slidably mounted on the top and external of said pair of clamping frames, said outer clamping frame constructed of a section having both vertical and lateral stiffness to form a track for said mender, and with joined ends to form a clamping frame, an inner clamping frame engaging said external clamping frame to hold securely an area of a stocking therebetween. said inner clamping frame comprising substantially a U shaped section of molded resilient material, outer sides tapered inwardly toward top to facilitate entry into external clamping frame, serrated ribs lengthwise of said outer sides with pointed edges extending downwardly to firmly grip said stocking, a U shaped section metal member molded within said resilient material to stiffen said inner clamping frame, said resilient material being dark in color to provide a back-ground incontrast to light colored stocking material, a mender comprising a hook and latch needle, a needle oscillating member, up and down travel limiting stops for said oscillating member, means for gripping said needle and readily adjusting same to a defined operating position vertically and to a proper position with respect to the work horizontally, spring means to retain said needle in said oscillating member in a neutral out-of-the-work position when not actuated and to furnish proper spring action for operating needle, requiring force of the hand only in one direction with spring reacting in the other direction to return the needle, a magnifying glass in a mounting positioned to cover field of operation of the needle and pivoted for off-work position, a finder with index in registry with operation of said needle at plane of work, side and cross member means to provide a frame to support the several parts of the mender and facilitate its operation by providing for double uses of members as a 'pivot, a mounting and a spring holder, a leaf spring attached to each side of frame at bottom, a rounded loop at each end of said spring in firm though smoothly movable contact with said outer clamping frame section, and a carriage advancing roll member, journalled into said frame, having resilient frictional contacts engaging said external clamping frame, and a thumb screw at one end of member for definitely advancing said carriage.

6. In a stocking run mender, in combination, a hook and latch needle, a needle holder with needle adjustable vertically and holder itself adjustable laterally, a needle operating member having a mounting for said needle holder, a carriage for said needle operating member, up and down travel limiting stops, a resistance returnto-neutral position spring for said operating member, and clamping frame means to firmly engage section of stocking material worked on and to also provide means for slidably holding said carriage supporting said needle operating member.

7. In a stocking run mender, in combination, an outer clamping frame, an inner clamping frame, a hook and latch needle and means for operating said needle in mending a stocking held between said clamping frames and means for mounting said needle for travel upon said outer clamping frame, said means arranged so that needle is subject to minute and precise adjustment backward and forward as required and unless definitely actuated retains that adjustment, a magnifying glass and a finder with index points on said mounting means, both in constant registry with point of operation of said needle. said outer clamping frame consisting of side members held in spaced apart relationship by end cross members, said side members having outwardly extending flanges engaged by said mounting means when slidably positioned thereon.

8. In a device of the character described in combination, an outer clamping frame of firm material and slightly rounded inner edges, an iner clamping frame of molded resilient material with draft to facilitate entry into said outer clamping frame, serrated ribs around said inner clamping frame having thin edges extending downwardly to grip material secured between said clamping frames, a stiffening section member molded within said resilient material to maintain shape relative to said outer clamping frame, a hook and latch needle for mending material held between said clamping frames, means for operating said needle at proper angle and between predetermined limits of up and down travel for mending said material, and means for mounting said needle operating means for travel upon said outer clamping frame, said means arranged so that needle is subject to precise adjustment backward and forward as required and said adjustment is retained unless definitely actuated.

9. In a stocking run mender, in combination, a hook and latch needle, a laterally adjustable needle holder with needle adjustable vertically therein, a needle operating member engaging said needle holder and provided with up and down travel limiting stops and spring loaded for upward position a carriage for said needle operating member, clamping frame means to firmly engage section of stocking material worked on and to provide for travel on same of carriage for said needle operating member, a roller having a thumb screw at one end removably journalled into said needle operating member carriage, replaceable inserts of resilient material threaded on said roller in frictional contact with each side of said clamping frame means, providing any desired increment of movement forward and backward of said needle operating member carriage by turning said thumb screw.

JOSEPH H. TAYLOR. HANS O. SCHOMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,779,248 Parlini Oct. 21, 1930 1,956,960 Messing May 1, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 241,900 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1925 401,000 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1933 

